Hartmann and Fitrakis: Reclaim Our Vote: Crisis in America's Elections

[Amaryllis]

Thom Hartmann and Bob Fitrakis

Reclaim Our Vote: Crisis in America’s Elections

http://www.oregonvrc.org/2005/700 for more information

When: 7:00 - 9:30 PM Friday, September 16

Where: Portland State University, Hoffman Hall (see detailed directions to find Hoffman Hall and parking information at the end of this announcement)

Price: $5 students, $8 - $15 general. (No one turned away for lack of funds.) This event is a fundraiser for Oregon Voter Rights Coalition.

DR. BOB FITRAKIS is an award-winning investigative journalist, educator, political scientist, attorney, author of seven books, editor of Free Press at FreePress.org, and is a dynamic, inspiring speaker. Dr. Fitrakis called the first public hearings on widespread election fraud resulting in unexplained irregularities and vote suppression in Ohio, and was one of the four attorneys to file a challenge to Ohio's 2004 election results (Moss vs. Bush.

Because of the overwhelming evidence of election fraud in Ohio in 2004, resulting in the congressional challenge of Ohio's electors on Jan. 6, 2005, Bob Fitrakis, along with Harvey Wasserman and Steven Rosenfeld, has co-edited a book about events before and during the election and during the contentious Ohio recount.

"Did George W. Bush Steal America's 2004 Election? Essential Documents," is a collection of news analyses, legal documents, election statistics and sworn statements from disenfranchised voters. The Conyers Report is also included in the book. "Essential Documents" exposes how Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell manipulated election results in Ohio and opens public debate on how to prevent similar election fraud from happening again.

The evening will begin with a presentation by Thom Hartmann on the crisis in America's elections, followed by Bob's presentation and ending with questions and answers, and a book signing. The presentation will address what needs to be done to ensure that future elections are fair.

TO FIND HOFFMAN HALL, and parking information: Hoffman Hall is located on the PSU campus on what would be 11th Street, but it is inside the campus where there are no streets. Parking is free in the PSU parking structures on Friday evening. Parking structure three is located between SW 12th and 13th and SW Market and Montgomery. From SW 12th and Montgomery, walk one block east and turn right to find Hoffman. From parking structure one at SW Broadway and Harrison, walk four blocks directly west across campus to get to Hoffman.

Map of PSU Campus: http://pdx.edu/map.html

[Trevelyan]

1. Rep. Conyers has requested that we write to Kerry

to ask him not to withdraw from the lawsuit against Ohio's OBSTRUCTION OF THE RECOUNT/AUDIT because of massive voter fraud. Rep. Conyers made a special request that people write Kerry because it is important to Conyers.

One of my emails to Kerry:

Please do not withdraw from the Ohio Court contesting the Election Fraud in 2004.

Many people supported you with their hearts, time and money. Please do not let us down by withdrawing from this vital lawsuit for defending the rights of Americans to vote and to have their vote counted correctly.

Thank you.

~~~

Keeping his eyes on the prize, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, announced today that he plans to hold a rally outside the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington in late September to keep the spotlight on the issue of reauthorizing the Civil Rights Act of 1965.
Rev. Jackson also disclosed that he will renew his call for civil rights and labor leaders to meet with U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and he plans to hold hearings throughout the South to secure testimonies on voter restrictions and voter suppression. read more

PETITION TO SUPPORT REAUTHORIZATION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965

http://advocacy.rainbowpush.org/signthepetition2.htm

http://donotconcede.com/

Nonelectoral reform issues & actions that demand our attention

PETITION TO SUPPORT REAUTHORIZATION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965

Whereas, 1965 Voting Rights Act is one of the nation’s most important civil and human rights victories leading to political empowerment and voter enfranchisement; (more)



:thumbsup: :hi:

[Trevelyan]

2. We have learned that the Kerry/Edwards campaign

Dear Friends,

We have learned that the Kerry/Edwards campaign is preparing to withdraw from the Ohio recount case, which is pending in federal court. This move comes as Federal Judge Carr in Toledo prepares to hold a status conference on August 30 on this case, along with two other pending voting rights cases.

When most others stood aside, PDA stood for voting rights and untainted elections in Ohio and in the halls of Congress. We stood to make sure that every vote counts. We have continued to fight together without slowing down.

Yesterday, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. issued a letter to Senators Kerry and Edwards urging that they not withdraw from this case. Here is a link to the letter:

http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/08/congressman-conyers-urges-kerry-and.html

The National Voting Rights Institute and its general counsel John Bonifaz, a PDA National Advisory Board Member, represent 2004 presidential candidates David Cobb and Michael Badnarik in their request for a meaningful recount of the 2004 Ohio presidential vote. During the recount last December, NVRI and its clients documented extensive irregularities in the way county boards of election conducted the recount.

This included evidence that the Triad corporation had tampered with voting machines prior to the start of the recount, as well as evidence the county election officials had directly violated rules and procedures so as to avoid a full hand count of the ballots.

In late December, Cobb and Badnarik filed amended counterclaims in this case alleging the recount was not conducted in accordance with basic equal protection and due process guarantees under the US Constitution. At stake in this case today

is whether the court will grant the plaintiffs declaratory judgment, setting forth the constitutional standard for how recounts should be conducted in future federal elections. This is a critical precedent to set for any future presidential or congressional election.

Please call/write/email Kerry today urging that he not withdraw and that he join Cobb and Badnarik's amended counterclaims on the way the recount was conducted. To contact Kerry/Edwards campaign office, go to:

http://www.johnkerry.com/contact/


In light of the upcoming August 30 hearing before Judge Carr, time is of the essence. If the proper precedent - of creating a constitutional standard as to how recounts should be conducted in regard to due process guarantees - is set in this case, it will help assure that future elections can and will be held without taint or
improper interference.

Kerry and Edwards must not back away from this
all-important struggle. If they do, they will not only be abandoning all those who stood for them in the campaign and all those who fought for a fair counting of the votes, but they will also be abandoning the fight to make sure that elections in this country do not become the murky purview of corporations whose machines and managers cannot be trusted. Please contact them today and tell them to keep standing for the vote.

In peace and solidarity,

Tim Carpenter

http://www.pdamerica.org

P.S. Thank you again for all your work this week with the launch of the People's Petition for an IRAQ PEACE PROCESS. If you have not signed the petition please go to:

http://www.pdamerica.org/petition/iraq-withdraw-petition.php#here

The vigils last night were amazing. Thank you again for all your help and support.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. Kick!

thanks for the heads up! :)